3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 71 | Conn. App. Ct. | 1964
The finding, with such corrections as the appellant is entitled to, discloses the following factual situation.
On September 1, 1960, the zoning commission of the town of Danbury adopted zoning regulations which created certain classes of districts, among which was a class entitled “Rural Districts — RU.” The purpose of “Rural Districts — RU” was to provide, in areas slightly less favorable for dense development, districts where traditional rural occupations can be subjected to a minimum of restriction, and also to reduce the density of the residential pattern where soil and topographic conditions are most unfavorable. Section 6 of the “Rural Districts —RU” portion of the zoning regulations permits a number of uses, and more particularly subsection 6.1.2 permits “Farming, truck or nursery gardening, provided that no livestock or poultry except household pets shall be kept on any lot of less than three acres.”
The defendants are the owners of certain premises in Danbury consisting of three-quarters of an
The controversy arises over the interpretation of the word “livestock,” and the meaning of the phrase “household pets” as used in this ordinance. These words are not defined in the ordinance. The plaintiff contends that the pony in this case is livestock, and not a household pet, within the meaning of the zoning regulation, while the defendants assert that the pony is not livestock and is in fact a household pet.
“Livestock” is a word made up of two elements, “live” and “stock.” It is a compound word, and
The connotation of words is not to be ignored in the interpretation of zoning regulations. For illustration of this, see Service Realty Corporation v. Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals, 141 Conn. 632, 638. The general purpose of the ordinance would seem to be better served by the plural connotation of the word “livestock.” It would be difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile the permitted uses of
It only remains to determine whether the trial court was in error in concluding that this pet pony was a household pet. The plaintiff concedes in its brief that a pony may be a pet but rejects the conclusion that this pony can be a household pet within the meaning of that phrase in the zoning ordinance. The only argument advanced by plaintiff in support of this rejection is that a pony is livestock under this ordinance. This argument fails to persuade. Granting that the phrase “household pet” may be somewhat ambiguous because of the not very clear concept of the word “household”, nevertheless such ambiguity in a zoning regulation should not be resolved in further derogation of common-law rights. See Park Construction Co. v. Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals, 142 Conn. 30, 35, and former Chief Justice Baldwin’s rationale in construing
There is no error.
In this opinion Kinmonth, J., concurred; Kosickt, J., concurred in the result.
“See. 6 — Rural Districts — RU . . .
6.1 - Uses Permitted . . .
6.1.2. “Farming, truck or nursery gardening, provided that no livestock or poultry except household pets shall be kept on any lot of less than three acres, except poultry as provided in paragraph 5.1.7 ...”
“6.1.6. Accessory uses, in addition to those permitted under paragraph 5.1.10, may include the parking and storage of vehicles and equipment used in connection with a use on the same premises permitted under paragraphs 6.1.2 through 6.1.5.”